Pelargonium plant named ‘KLEPP16381’

ABSTRACT

A new  pelargonium  plant particularly distinguished by purple red colored flowers and a hanging growth habit, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Pelargonium peltatum.

Variety denomination: ‘KLEPP16381’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to Switzerland Plant Variety Protection Application No. 16-3073, as filed on Jun. 16, 2016, the entire contents are herein incorporated by reference for all the application teaches and discloses.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of pelargonium, botanically known as Pelargonium peltatum and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘KLEPP16381’. ‘KLEPP16381’ originated from a cross-combination in July 2010 in Stuttgart, Germany between the female pelargonium variety ‘PP-2008-0688’ (unpatented) and the proprietary male pelargonium variety ‘PP-2006-0064’ (unpatented).

Seeds from the cross-combination were obtained and sown and plants were grown for evaluation. A single plant was selected in June 2011 and subsequently named ‘KLEPP16381’. In August 2011 ‘KLEPP16381’ was first vegetatively propagated in Stuttgart, Germany by vegetative cuttings from branches. ‘KLEPP16381’ was found to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation via vegetative cuttings in Stuttgart, Germany.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Stuttgart, Germany.

-   -   1. Purple red flowers; and     -   2. A hanging growth habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new pelargonium plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph which shows an overall view of the plant. The photograph is of an approximately five to six months old plant grown in Stuttgart, Germany under greenhouse conditions in September 2013. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘KLEPP16381’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Stuttgart, Germany. Data was collected on plants grown four months after planting in Stuttgart, Germany under a glass covered greenhouse in May 2017. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 5^(th) edition (2007).

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Geraniaceae.         -   Botanical.—Pelargonium peltatum.         -   Common.—Pelargonium.         -   Designation.—‘KLEPP16381’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—The proprietary pelargonium variety             ‘PP-2008-0688’ (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—The proprietary pelargonium variety             ‘PP-2006-0064’ (unpatented). -   Plant:     -   -   Form.—Bushy and round.         -   Habit.—Hanging.         -   Height.—15.0 cm.         -   Spread.—20.0 cm.         -   Natural flowering season.—Spring to autumn.         -   Propagation type.—Vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—3 months.         -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—21 days.         -   Root description.—White and fine. -   Stems:     -   -   Quantity of stems per plant.—4 to 5.         -   Color.—RHS 137B.         -   Surface texture.—Smooth.         -   Stem form.—Round.         -   Diameter.—0.5 cm.         -   Length.—8.0 cm.         -   Internode length.—2.0 cm to 4.0 cm.         -   Anthocyanin.—Absent. -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Shape.—Ivy-shaped.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Entire and lobed.         -   Texture (both surfaces).—Smooth.         -   Length.—8.0 cm.         -   Width.—8.0 cm.         -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 137A and RHS 187A. Lower surface:             RHS 137B.         -   Petiole.—Length: 4.0 cm to 7.0 cm. Diameter: 0.2 cm. Color:             RHS 138B. Strength: Medium.         -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.         -   Venation color.—Upper surface: RHS 137B. Lower surface: RHS             137D. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Lastingness of flowers on the plant.—8 to 10 days.         -   Umbels.—Quantity of umbels per plant: 3 to 5. Length:             8.0 cm. Diameter: 8.0 cm.         -   Individual florets of the umbel.—Quantity of florets per             umbel: 6 to 10. Depth: 2.0 cm. Diameter: 5.5 cm.         -   Fragrance.—Absent. -   Flower buds:     -   -   Cluster shape.—Round.         -   Cluster size.—Length: 3.0 cm. Width: 3.0 cm.         -   Surface texture.—Moderately pubescent.         -   Bud.—Height: 1.0 cm. Width: 0.6 cm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex:             Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Color: RHS 137C. -   Petals:     -   -   Quantity per flower.—10 to 12.         -   Shape.—Obtriangular.         -   Apex.—Round.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Length.—3.0 cm.         -   Width.—1.8 cm.         -   Texture (both surfaces).—Smooth.         -   Color of lobes.—Upper lobes: Upper surface: RHS 53A. Lower             surface: RHS 58B. Lower lobes: Upper surface: RHS 53A. Lower             surface: RHS 58B. -   Petaloids:     -   -   Quantity per flower.—1 to 5.         -   Shape.—Moderate.         -   Apex.—Moderate.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Length.—0.5 cm to 2.0 cm.         -   Width.—0.3 cm to 0.8 cm.         -   Texture (both surfaces).—Smooth.         -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 53A. Lower surface: RHS 53B. -   Sepals:     -   -   Number per flower.—5.         -   Shape.—Elliptic.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Surface texture.—Upper surface: Smooth. Lower surface:             Moderately pubescent.         -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 137B. Lower surface: RHS 176C and             RHS 138B.         -   Length.—1.8 cm.         -   Width.—0.7 cm. -   Pedicel:     -   -   Length.—3.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.15 cm.         -   Color.—RHS 176C and RHS 138B.         -   Surface texture.—Sparsely pubescent.         -   Strength.—Medium. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—10.0 cm to 12.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.4 cm.         -   Color.—RHS 137C.         -   Surface texture.—Smooth.         -   Strength.—Medium to strong. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Quantity of stamens per flower: 5. Anther length:             0.2 cm. Filament length: 0.7 cm. Filament color: RHS 65D.             Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: RHS 31B.         -   Pistils.—Number: 1. Stigma color: RHS 60D. Style length:             0.3 cm. Style color: RHS 65C. Ovary arrangement: Central.             Ovary color: RHS 138D. Ovary diameter: 0.1 cm. Ovary length:             0.5 cm. -   Fruit and seed set: None observed. -   Disease and pest/insect resistance: None observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘KLEPP16381’ is distinguished from its parents as described in Table 1:

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Female parent Male Parent Characteristic ‘KLEPP16381’ ‘PP-2008-0688’ ‘PP-2006-0064’ Growth Medium Medium Strong Earliness Medium Very early Medium Flower color Purple red Orange red Orange red

‘KLEPP16381’ can be compared to the commercial variety ‘KLEPP12267’, also known as ‘Royal Night’ (unpatented). Differences between the two varieties are described in Table 2:

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Commercial line Characteristic ‘KLEPP16381’ ‘KLEPP12267’ Flower color Purple red Deep purple red Growth Medium Compact 

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of pelargonium plant named ‘KLEPP16381’ as illustrated and described herein. 